Week 8: How does Dick’s essay (1999; 1964) illuminate his use of Nazism as a motif in High Castle?

P.K. Dick, the author of “Nazism and The High Castle,” ponders on a review that was not done on the works itself, but specifically the idea behind the justification of the persecution that Nazis did during the Holocaust of WWII; and the inspirational years that lead the same victims of the Holocaust to forming a nationalistic entity, who then go on to apply these same methods that the Nazis used during their own persecution. This essay shows a complex set of intertwined ideas that exposes the readers mind to how Nazis justified their actions towards their victims during WWII, and how it is similar to the same actions that are done and justified by the Zionistic nationalists of Israel in the lands of the Palestinians.

Initially, Dicks essay starts by pondering on why the Nazis would do such acts to fulfill their superior ideological bigotry. But in reality, just as anyone would answer, the author is quoted by saying, “Phobia is phobia.” To keep it plain and simple, that’s the answer. But in this case, it gets more complicated since history is repeating itself, but in reverse this time. The Nazi persecution has given birth to an evil product that went on to repeat these same tactics, and the continuation of this same cycle in order to fulfill their own individual agenda.

For example, Dick clarifies the use of Nazism, as a motif, by pointing out that there were some elements such as the ‘Jewish Nationalist,’ that were “overlooked.” Also goes on to say, “...at the time of the rise of anti-Jewish ideology among non-Jewish-Germans, the Jewish-Germans were beginning, in great part, to think—as not Germans or even Europeans, but as nationalists of the soon-to-be-reborn national state of Israel.”

Furthermore, the author also accentuates this same idea by agreeing with Harry Warners writings in Niekas, by stating,

“We squirm and we remember because it is not “them” but “us” who thought those awful thoughts, and hence instigated those awful deeds; and the “us” includes the Jewish nationalistic fanatics, some of whom live today in Israel, who invade schools, break up grammar school class meetings with their queasy-military thugs … because the teacher of the class is not racially “correct.” In this case, however, not sufficiently Jewish, rather than sufficiently German.”

Moreover, Dick clearly shows how Nazism has produced such a hypocritical and conniving movement (Zionism) that has been established on the inhumane tactics and methods, which seem to have been passed down from Nazism itself:

“We like to think of the victims of tyranny and cruelty as innocent (e.g., Chessman). But often the victim is bloodstained, too; i.e., he has participated actively in the situation that has at last claimed his life. Many Jews today wont ride in a VW, and some wont even listen to the music of Beethoven is this not as neurotic and “sick” as was the nineteenth-century ideologies of blood, race, and land being taught by both Germans and Jewish-Germans?

Finally, the author wraps up his essay about the ideological justification of Nazism atrocities committed against the Jews, by comparing it to the justification of the Jewish nationalists (Zionists) atrocities that are currently being committed against the Palestinian people. Dick concludes by stating, “Israel exists, and Jews exist. And –let us face it: Germany exists. Let’s live in the present and for the future, not dwelling neurotically on the outrages of the past.”

This would be convenient to claim when you’re the winning entity in any conflict, like the Jewish nationalists who suffered from WWII. However, the real question that Dick should be asking is ‘why should the Palestinian people suffer ongoing violent injustice, displacement, genocide, and persecution, for 60 years, and for something that Germany is the cause for? Wouldn’t it be more logical and sane to hold the responsible party accountable for its own actions? Shouldn’t the German government suffer consequences for its actions, or atleast play a larger role in the peace process? What people forget to mention and realize is the other information available out there regarding this matter.

For example, Jewish nationalists that used the calamity of WWII to their advantage in establishing their own Jewish state were successful in their tactics of manipulation and blatant duplicity, with the full-fledged support of the western super powers, regarding their cause. This could not have happened without the help of the founding father of Zionism, and also served as the driving forced behind the establishment of the Jewish state of Israel, Theodor Herzl.

When you have a state that was established on theories of people like the founder of Zionism, you can find that this is a clear indication of the injustice committed on the Palestinian people. For example, Herzl writes in his diary “The Jewish State,” about the use of anti-Semitism, and how it has served the Jewish causes interests by serving its own agenda by establishing Israel. Herzl stated in his diary in the late 1800's:

“It is essential that the sufferings of Jews.. . become worse. . . this will assist in realization of our plans. . .I have an excellent idea. . . I shall induce anti-Semites to liquidate Jewish wealth. . . The anti-Semites will assist us thereby in that they will strengthen the persecution and oppression of Jews. The anti-Semites shall be our best friends”.

The current turmoil in the Middle East region, along with the resentment of the Palestinians towards Israelis; because of the blatant inhumane injustice they have received for the past 60 years, will only inflame the friction throughout the whole region. I think of it this way, if the Palestinians and many Arab nations have lost too much already, they don’t have anything else to lose. This can be of grave danger for Israel if it forgets to realize that it’s completely bordered with countries who will seek revenge. This constant living in fear has made this Jewish state live in a sense of hysteria and heightened level of security at all times, and never lived in peace.

References:

• Dick, P.K. (1995). Nazism and the High Castle. In Sutin, L.(Ed.), The Shifting Realities of Philip K. Dick (pp. 112-117). New york: Vintage.

• Theodor Herzl, the Founder of Zionism. (n.d.). True Torah Jews Against Zionism. Retrieved September 05, 2011, from http://www.jewsagainstzionism.com/zionism/herzl/index.cfm